Carmine WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant Serving Carmine, Texas

Carmine WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Carmine, Fayette County, Texas, serving a small population of 150 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for most municipal facilities to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 75.71 units and treats a similar daily flow volume. As a small facility in rural Texas, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) oversees permitting and compliance for such plants. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that eventually drains into the Colorado River basin, which flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream. Proper treatment at this plant helps maintain the ecological health of the receiving waters.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Colorado River in Texas, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports a mix of agricultural and natural habitats, including fish and bird species. Effective secondary treatment reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality and the coastal ecosystem.